America's Team Trivialities

In 2006, Julius Jones became the fifth back in team history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. It was the 23rd time that a back for the Dallas Cowboys had reached this milestone, and it was the first time since Emmitt Smith accomplished the feat in 2001.

The first player to rush for 1,000 yards in team history was Calvin Hill, who did so in 1972 and 1973. Hill and Tony Dorsett were the only two players to rush for 1,000 yards before the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. When Hill ran for 1036 yards in 1972, he broke the franchise single-season mark of 945 yards set by Don Perkins in 1962.

In 2005, Jones came the closest to 1,000 yards without eclipsing the mark when he finished the season with 993. Dorsett had the lowest total that exceeded 1,000 yards when he rushed for 1,007 yards as a rookie in 1977.

Emmitt Smith holds the franchise mark with 11 consecutive 1,000 yards seasons, during a period that lasted from 1991 to 2001. Dorsett opened his career with five straight 1,000-yard seasons, but was unable to continue the streak due to the players’ strike in 1982. He reached the mark again each season from 1983 to 1985. The only player on the list to fail to achieve this feat for a second time was Herschel Walker, who was traded by the Cowboys in 1989.

Here is a list of each of the players to reach this milestone:

Number

Name

Years

11

Smith, Emmitt

1991-2001

8

Dorsett, Tony

1977-1981, 1983-1985

2

Hill, Calvin

1972-1973

1

Walker, Herschel

1988

1

Jones, Julius

2006

Here is a complete list of 1,000-yard seasons by Dallas Cowboy running backs, in order of yardage.